Overview Hi everyone, my name is Anna, and together with my family, we are genuine dog lovers. Dogs have always brought a great deal of joy, warmth, and companionship into our home, which is why we decided to offer a small-scale, home-based dog boarding service in a calm, caring, family environment. When your dog stays with us, the aim is for them to feel welcomed into the household rather than simply “boarded”. We understand how important it is to leave your dog with someone you trust, so we take time to help each dog settle in at their own pace and to make their stay as comfortable and familiar as possible. We provide a caring and appropriately supervised home environment where your dog’s normal routine is followed as closely as reasonably possible, including: Feeding times Walks Play and enrichment Rest periods Quiet time Companionship Individual care needs Every dog is different, so we take time to learn about their personality, habits, likes, dislikes, routines, and any worries or sensitivities they may have. Our aim is to provide owners with reassurance that their dog is being cared for in a responsible, attentive, and pet-loving household. Insurance I hold specialist insurance covering my home dog-boarding activities. Licensed Home Boarding I hold the required local authority licence to provide home dog boarding services. As part of the licensing process, the premises and operating arrangements are assessed against the applicable requirements for home dog boarding. Experience With Animals As a family, we have practical experience caring for animals, including our own pets, pets belonging to friends and family, and dogs who have stayed with us through home boarding. We have cared for dogs of different ages, breeds, temperaments, activity levels, personalities and routines. This includes young and energetic dogs who enjoy plenty of exercise, play, and stimulation, as well as older dogs who benefit from a gentler pace, additional patience, and more opportunities to rest. We also have experience caring for dogs with individual health needs, mobility limitations, nervousness, separation-related behaviours, and differing levels of confidence. We understand that every dog is different, so we take time to learn about their normal routine, temperament, body language, exercise needs, preferences, triggers, and individual care requirements. Our experience includes energetic breeds such as Dobermans and Pomskies, as well as smaller dogs with equally strong personalities, including Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. This experience has helped us develop a calm, patient, and attentive approach to caring for dogs and reinforced the importance of consistency, appropriate supervision, and treating every animal as an individual. Training To continue developing my knowledge and support good standards of care within a home-boarding environment, I have completed pet-care training and courses in: Pet Sitting Canine Behaviour Pet Grooming Pet First Aid & CPR Understanding Canine Anxiety Diploma Living Psychology: Animal Minds (Open University) Canine Communication Diploma – In Progress Additional training and development relevant to maintaining a safe and well-managed home environment has included: Fire safety Food safety and hygiene Infection prevention and control Health and safety These areas of knowledge support my overall approach to maintaining a clean, organised, safe, and comfortable environment for dogs staying in our home. Location We are ideally located close to a local nature reserve and extensive heathland in north Bournemouth. The surrounding area offers a varied natural environment, including: Heathland, wooded areas, open spaces, scrubland, and peaceful walking routes. Being close to these areas allows us to provide varied walks with opportunities for: Gentle exercise, Sniffing, Exploring, Mental stimulation, Enrichment. Walks are adapted to the individual dog’s age, mobility, energy level, behaviour, and owner preferences. Garden We have a securely enclosed, spacious garden where dogs can enjoy supervised outdoor time. The garden provides space for: Toilet breaks, gentle exercise, supervised play, exploring, sniffing, relaxation Outdoor access is managed according to the individual dog and the circumstances at the time. Equipment and Crate If your dog is crate-trained or enjoys having their own enclosed resting space, a suitable crate for small to medium-sized dogs can be provided. There is therefore no need to bring your own crate unless your dog is particularly accustomed to it and you prefer to do so. Crate size: 70 cm H × 80.5 cm W × 59 cm D For additional safety, internal safety gates are positioned around the home. These help manage movement within the property and reduce the risk of accidental escape while still allowing dogs suitable space to relax and move around comfortably. Children We have two children aged 10 and 14 who are calm, respectful, and accustomed to being around animals. Interactions between children and boarded dogs are appropriately supervised and managed according to each dog’s individual temperament and preferences. We understand that not all dogs enjoy cuddles, close contact, or frequent interaction. If your dog prefers additional space, quiet time, or less interaction, this will be respected. Dogs are always provided with suitable areas where they can rest undisturbed. Smoke-Free Home Our home is smoke-free. Smoking and vaping do not take place indoors, helping maintain a clean and comfortable environment for dogs staying with us. Rules and Routine We respect and follow your dog’s established routines and household rules as closely as reasonably possible. Whether that means: No furniture access, sleeping in a particular type of bed, specific feeding times, structured walks, quiet evening routines, full “four-legged royalty” privileges. We will aim to follow what is familiar and appropriate for your dog. From structured days to relaxed evenings, gentle companionship, and the occasional Netflix cuddle, the aim is to make each stay feel as comfortable, familiar, and enjoyable as possible. Capacity Our home boarding is intentionally kept small-scale and is offered on a limited basis around our existing commitments. We do not operate as a high-volume boarding service. Availability varies depending on our circumstances and whether we can provide the appropriate level of care and attention for each individual dog. Every booking is considered individually, taking into account factors such as: - Personality - Individual needs - Size - Temperament - Behaviour - Health requirements - Compatibility with the home environment - Compatibility with any other dogs who may be staying There are periods when we do not accept any boarding bookings. At other times, there may be only one dog staying with us. Where circumstances and availability allow, solo boarding may occasionally be available. Suitability is always considered before a booking is confirmed. Our Approach to Care Our approach is based on: Careful observation, good communication with owners, consistent routines, appropriate supervision, cleanliness and hygiene, risk awareness, accurate record-keeping where required, a calm and organised home environment, responding appropriately to changes in a dog’s behaviour or wellbeing We monitor dogs throughout their stay and take account of changes in areas such as: Behaviour - Appetite - Drinking - Mobility - Toileting - Comfort - Energy levels - General wellbeing. If concerns arise, owners are contacted, and veterinary advice is sought where appropriate. Supporting Dogs With Routine Medication Dogs requiring routine medication may be considered for boarding where their individual needs can be safely and appropriately accommodated. Medication is administered according to: Clear written instructions provided by the owner Relevant veterinary guidance where applicable The agreed care plan for the dog Medication is stored safely and in accordance with any storage instructions provided. If an unexpected change in the dog’s wellbeing is noticed, the owner will be contacted, and veterinary advice sought where appropriate. Medication arrangements are discussed before the booking is confirmed to ensure that the dog’s needs can be reasonably accommodated.